Hello,
I’m currently a bit undecided. We want to either tile the entire ground floor of our house or the bathroom on the upper floor.
The tiles to be used are as follows:
Ground floor: 100 sqm (1,080 sq ft) Cerrad Mattina in the format 120x20cm (47x8 inches)
Upper floor: 18 sqm (194 sq ft) floor (bathroom): Marazzi Treverklife in the format 120x20cm (47x8 inches)
Upper floor: 14 sqm (150 sq ft) wall (bathroom): Villeroy & Boch Unit Four floor tile in the format 60x60cm (24x24 inches)
All without any specific laying pattern.
Some have advised me against doing it myself. However, I find the cost of about 6,000–8,000€ somewhat too high.
I have never laid tiles before but I’m not under much time pressure and I am used to researching details thoroughly. I am also willing to accept higher material usage since I would save a lot of money that way.
What do you think? Is it possible to manage something like this with the help of YouTube, forums, and similar resources?
I’m currently a bit undecided. We want to either tile the entire ground floor of our house or the bathroom on the upper floor.
The tiles to be used are as follows:
Ground floor: 100 sqm (1,080 sq ft) Cerrad Mattina in the format 120x20cm (47x8 inches)
Upper floor: 18 sqm (194 sq ft) floor (bathroom): Marazzi Treverklife in the format 120x20cm (47x8 inches)
Upper floor: 14 sqm (150 sq ft) wall (bathroom): Villeroy & Boch Unit Four floor tile in the format 60x60cm (24x24 inches)
All without any specific laying pattern.
Some have advised me against doing it myself. However, I find the cost of about 6,000–8,000€ somewhat too high.
I have never laid tiles before but I’m not under much time pressure and I am used to researching details thoroughly. I am also willing to accept higher material usage since I would save a lot of money that way.
What do you think? Is it possible to manage something like this with the help of YouTube, forums, and similar resources?
Alex85 schrieb:
Large-format living spaces – never. Have you ever worked with a leveling system?
Regarding the wood-look tiles, you should definitely see them in person if you haven’t already. And not just under artificial lighting in the store. Photos online are all basically useless (lighting, screen color accuracy, etc.). You can’t see the surface texture there, which varies significantly. Merazzi was immediately ruled out for us as soon as we saw them in real life.Yes, the issue with photos is definitely a thing. But we already have sample tiles from all the options at home.
Okay, apparently it’s not that easy, so I’ll just skip it. Especially with Marazzi, you can see from the pictures that the grout lines seem very narrow...
I would like to join this thread. We want to lay small tiles (about 20x20cm (8x8 inches)) in the workshop (20m² (215 sq ft)). Originally, we had someone who wanted to do it as a hobby project for us. Unfortunately, he was hospitalized last week for eye surgery and currently shouldn’t move around much. This might take some time.
Now we are considering doing it ourselves. We are also inexperienced, but it’s just a secondary room and the tiles are quite small. We have already primed the surface, which is very clean and smooth because it has new flow screed. Should we go for it? Are there any tools or aids that could make the job easier?
Now we are considering doing it ourselves. We are also inexperienced, but it’s just a secondary room and the tiles are quite small. We have already primed the surface, which is very clean and smooth because it has new flow screed. Should we go for it? Are there any tools or aids that could make the job easier?
I can only agree with the previous comments! I tiled the small bathroom myself using 60x30cm (24x12 inches) tiles, and I think it turned out quite neat for a first tiling job. However, the area was fairly small and, most importantly, it’s not the main living space. With 120x20cm (48x8 inches) tiles, you’re dealing with a completely different tile format.
I would definitely recommend having the main living areas professionally tiled, as you will probably end up regretting it otherwise. When it comes to tiles, the installation needs to be top quality to truly look good. The tiles I installed have a slate look with texture, so minor imperfections are less noticeable.
If you really want to do it yourself, calculate the costs carefully. You’ll need to buy additional materials, have a good tile cutter, invest time, and also get some other tools.
@kaho674: Are you reasonably skilled at DIY? If so, you can definitely tile a secondary room with this tile size. A tile cutter is essential, as you won’t be able to get by without cutting. Otherwise, you’ll need the usual tools like a notched trowel, sponge float, etc. Or you might consider one of the leveling systems, but with this tile size, you may need more of them.
I would definitely recommend having the main living areas professionally tiled, as you will probably end up regretting it otherwise. When it comes to tiles, the installation needs to be top quality to truly look good. The tiles I installed have a slate look with texture, so minor imperfections are less noticeable.
If you really want to do it yourself, calculate the costs carefully. You’ll need to buy additional materials, have a good tile cutter, invest time, and also get some other tools.
@kaho674: Are you reasonably skilled at DIY? If so, you can definitely tile a secondary room with this tile size. A tile cutter is essential, as you won’t be able to get by without cutting. Otherwise, you’ll need the usual tools like a notched trowel, sponge float, etc. Or you might consider one of the leveling systems, but with this tile size, you may need more of them.
GelbesT schrieb:
ok apparently it’s not that easy, so I’ll just leave it Tiling floors is really not rocket science—especially with standard sizes that are still easy to handle alone, around 30x30 cm (12x12 inches). With those, you don’t usually have issues with raised edges. However, for longer formats or large tiles, the corners need to be pressed individually, and they’re definitely not easy to handle.
Tiling bathroom walls, ideally halfway up with finishing and edge trims, coping with recesses and projections, plus numerous penetrations (faucets, radiators, drain grates in the shower) is a completely different matter.
I have done both myself at home—for the first time. It’s not perfect, but it’s also an older building, so imperfections are less noticeable. For a new build, I would at least hire professional help for the bathroom. For the living areas on the floor, I don’t see a problem, only with the tile sizes you mentioned.
cschiko schrieb:
@kaho674: Are you at least somewhat skilled with your hands? I always got an A in shop class. Does that count?@kaho674 You will need:
- 8x8 mm (about 5/16 x 5/16 inch) tooth washer
- 3 mm (1/8 inch) tile spacers
- Tile wedges for the baseboards
- Rectangular trowel, screed bucket, ideally a mixing drill
- Good tile cutter (can be rented)
- Bucket of water
- Sponge
- Small angle grinder with 110 mm (4 1/3 inch) ceramic disc
- 80 cm or 100 cm (31 or 39 inch) level (to check that the tile doesn’t start to bulge)
- Tape measure and pencil, square
- Hacksaw if you want to install edge profiles somewhere
Whether a single workshop == 1 is enough, I’m not sure
- 8x8 mm (about 5/16 x 5/16 inch) tooth washer
- 3 mm (1/8 inch) tile spacers
- Tile wedges for the baseboards
- Rectangular trowel, screed bucket, ideally a mixing drill
- Good tile cutter (can be rented)
- Bucket of water
- Sponge
- Small angle grinder with 110 mm (4 1/3 inch) ceramic disc
- 80 cm or 100 cm (31 or 39 inch) level (to check that the tile doesn’t start to bulge)
- Tape measure and pencil, square
- Hacksaw if you want to install edge profiles somewhere
Whether a single workshop == 1 is enough, I’m not sure
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